This Valentine’s weekend, while love is in the air, we are more excited about some thrilling boxing action than exchanging roses and chocolates.
Though Elton John released “Love Song” in 1970, just three years later he reminded us that “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” a sentiment we wholeheartedly support here at Uncrowned.
Let’s explore five key highlights to watch for this weekend in the captivating world of boxing.
1. Zuffa Boxing 03: Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin Seek Heavyweight Momentum
Zuffa Boxing is back this Sunday with the aptly named “03” event. No gimmicks or catchy taglines here—just two heavyweight contenders ready to face off at Las Vegas’ Meta Apex.
Efe Ajagba enters this matchup as the favorite, aiming to bounce back from a lackluster draw against Martin Bakole and extend his unbeaten streak to seven fights. To do so, he must hand Charles Martin, the fan-favorite “Prince,” his fifth career defeat. Martin, known for his short stint as the IBF heavyweight titleholder in 2016, has faced scrutiny for his previous performances, but in the heavyweight division, anything can happen.
2. Umar Dzambekov Receives His Paramount+ Spotlight!
Many may struggle to name famous Austrian athletes, but we can add Umar Dzambekov to that list. The Chechen-born fighter, now based in Los Angeles, will co-feature in Zuffa Boxing 03 against Ahmed Elbiali this Sunday.
At 28, Dzambekov remains unbeaten in his professional career and fights in the light heavyweight division, one of eight classes recognized by Zuffa Boxing. He faces a veteran in Elbiali, who has been inactive with only four fights since 2019. A significant win for Dzambekov could establish him as Zuffa’s leading contender at 175 pounds.
3. Marco Huck Resumes His Comeback After Four-Year Break
Despite skipping the 2016 throwback Instagram trend, Marco Huck, a former WBO world cruiserweight champion, could easily flaunt his shiny IBO title if he chose to join in. The now 41-year-old has had a remarkable career but found it impossible to step away from the ring entirely.
This weekend, Huck makes his return to action in Halle, Germany, marking his 51st professional fight after retiring in 2020 and returning in 2024 to face Vaclav Pejsar (26-22, 21 KOs).
4. Ryosuke Nishida Moves Up to 122 Pounds to Fight Bryan Mercado
This weekend sees Ryosuke Nishida returning to action after a loss to Junto Nakatani as he steps up in weight class to face the experienced Bryan Mercado, who boasts an impressive eleven-year unbeaten streak.
Nishida, a former bantamweight world champion, is known for his skill and tactical prowess. His match in Osaka, Japan, against Mercado, who is fighting outside Mexico for the first time in his 33-fight career, promises to be intriguing.
5. Labinot Xhoxhaj: More Than Just a Great Scrabble Word
Scoring 43 points in Scrabble without a double or triple word score? Impressive! But even more important is Labinot Xhoxhaj defending his EBU European heavyweight title—and his unbeaten record—against Pezhman Seifkhani in Lahr, Germany, this weekend.
Streaming live on DAZN, this event revives the EBU heavyweight title, which has seen illustrious champions like Tyson Fury and Kubrat Pulev. At 35, Seifkhani is set to fight in his eighth country since turning pro in 2015, and the outcome promises to influence the future landscape of heavyweight boxing.
